Fans of Kentucky-based singer and songwriter Chris Knight have been waiting impatiently for news on a new album for a few years now. His last record Little Victories was released in September of 2012, and since then folks have been salivating for new material. A songwriter’s songwriter who’s been covered by Randy Travis, Lee Ann Womack, and others, his down home authenticity mixed with real world wisdom makes him a favorite of many.

Promoting his upcoming live shows, Chris Knight stopped by the studios of WFHB recently to appear on the Firehouse Sessions with host Jim Manion. Knight played a few songs, and gave fans an update on when new music may be on the way.

“I’m pretty close. I need to get on in the studio, and start recording some stuff,” Chris Knight said. “I’ve got a pile of songs. I’m still tweaking, and culling, and so it shouldn’t be too long. I know it’s about time, I’ve just kind of been … I tell everybody I ain’t sold enough of my first album yet (laughing) so what’s the rush?”

Growing up in Slaughters, Kentucky, Chris Knight worked in the mining industry for a decade before he started pursuing music seriously at the age of 30. He didn’t land a record deal until he was 37. Now he’s a regular on the tour circuit, as well as in lists other songwriters recite when asked who their favorite composers are.

Chris Knight has been signed with Decca, Dualtone, and Thirty Tigers. His last record debuted in the Top 25 of the Billboard Country Albums chart.

Chris Knight has been saying these same things for the past couple years. He has often mentioned that he needs to get into the studio and record what he has and that he hasn’t sold enough of the last album. He has sounded bitter about his album sales. A buddy of mine saw him a couple years ago and said he seemed pretty miserable the whole show.

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Jack Williams
August 28, 2018 @
11:05 am

I don’t know that I’ve ever heard of him saying that he has enough songs to the point where he has to do some culling, though. I guess we’ll see.

I posted this article because I pretty regularly receive inquiries from Chris Knight fans wondering about news about a new record. The only person I get more inquiries about is Hank3.

The last time I addressed this, Chris said that the reason he hadn’t released an album was the “songs were coming slower.” It would seem in this new interview, it’s a new development that he’s got an album’s worth of songs finished.

Given the high regard so many of us have for Chris Knight, I personally think it would have been delinquent of you not to post something on this news story. Also, the main difference between this one and the previous Chris Knight story (also newsworthy) is that there’s reason for hope that we might hear some new music soon or at the very least, we’ll probably get a another Chris Knight album at some point.

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The Original WTF Guy
August 29, 2018 @
6:40 am

“A buddy of mine saw him a couple years ago and said he seemed pretty miserable the whole show.”

I’ve seen him twice, the first time was solo, probably soon after A Pretty Good Guy. The second was around 2014 and it both cases as good as the show was it was hurt by how much he seemed as if he would have rather been *anywhere* else. It’s one thing to not be comfortable performing, but it’s another to almost be disdainful of having to do it. I don’t need someone to be Mick Jagger, but a smile every now and then and the recognition that there are people standing in front of you wouldn’t hurt.

He’s a *great* songwriter but I’ve never had much motivation to go see him since then.

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Mike W.
August 29, 2018 @
10:57 am

I think that’s just Knight’s personality in regards to him seeming “miserable”. Every interview I have ever seen of the guy, he has never once seemed super thrilled about doing the interview or even being on stage. I think he is a guy that if he could just write/record songs and never tour or deal with the business aspect of the business, he would be more than fine with that.

In regards to the album sales portion of your comment, I think he might be upset that album sales have generally tanked and streaming is the preferred method to consume music for the consumer. That makes touring all the more essential to artists bottom line. I can’t see that playing well with Knight who seems to be content to just hang out on his farm in Kentucky and drop off the grid. Hell, I half-expect that day is coming soon anyway. I don’t expect him to be like John Prine, writing and recording well into his senior years. I expect Knight to put out one or two more albums and then call it quite and drop off the grid. Just a hunch…

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KJ
August 30, 2018 @
7:03 pm

I remember seeing him every time he blew through Denton before and around the time “The Jealous Kind” came out. It seems like somewhere in that time he got burned out. He would still put on great shows and was somewhat congenial with fans. But in and around that time his attitude about all of it seemed to change. I’m not laying blame. But I noticed this too.

I’ve been sleeping on this guy, despite past recommendations. “Songwriters songwriters” appeal to me so I’ve been checking out his last couple albums. Damn. Wish I’d checked him out sooner. Not just his songwriting….I like his gritty approach and voice. Like L. McKenna and Townes, just to name a couple, I think I will like his versions better than the covers, no matter who does them. I also like the theme of resilience and overall positive outlook in his lyrics from what I have heard so far. Glad he’s finally going to release some new material.

I don’t know that I had heard of him much before Little Victories, but I did jump on board shortly after Trigger’s review. But I know that feeling of hearing about someone, but sleeping them for too long. For starters, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Robbie Fulks.

Thanks for reminding me I’ve gotta catch up with Little Victories — huge fan of his earlier stuff. “North Dakota” is one of the best story songs ever, imo. “It Ain’t Easy Being Me” is the story of my life.

Chris Knight’s an amazing songwriter and artist. His songs have a realness about them that few other writers can match. When you listen to Robert Earl Keen (who’s also great), the songs–“Whenever Kindness Fails,” “Jesse With the Long Hair Hanging Down,” “The Road Goes On Forever,”–are cinematic, the grifters and killers who inhabit them seem like legends. With Chris Knight, the songs–“Love and a 45,” “William,” “Down The River,” the grifters and drifters and killers just seem real.
I saw him perform in a dive bar on Houston Street on New York’s Lower East Side in the late ’90s. I hope he’s still got some good material in the tank.

Honestly, he could record several songs from Trailer and Trailer II (like he did with “Crooked Road” and “Hard Edges) along with “Send it on Down”” and it would make a GREAT album.

Like lots of you, I’ve been to many of his shows over the years. His personality isn’t generally what I would describe as “bubbly,” and there have been a couple that weren’t the best, but he’s still in my opinion the absolute best songwriter and I’m one of those hanging onto every word and hoping he keeps doing his thing…

I’ve seen Chris twice, and I thought he put on a good show both times. The last time was last year at a music festival in south Georgia. He played an awesome set, telling stories and interacting with fans. He also met with fans and signed autographs after his set. He was a really nice guy.